J.D.R. Hawkins Shares Her Passion for Civil War Historical Fiction
PHOTO: J.D.R. Hawkins, bestselling historical fiction author, captured in a thoughtful moment reflecting her commitment to preserving Civil War history through powerful storytelling.
A Deep Dive Into History, Storytelling, And Creative Insight
This interview explores J.D.R. Hawkins’s dedication to Civil War storytelling, her meticulous research process, the emotional depth of her characters, and the unique Southern perspectives shaping her award-winning Renegade Series.
J.D.R. Hawkins brings the American Civil War to life with a rare blend of historical precision and emotional depth. Her celebrated body of work—including the acclaimed Renegade Series—captures the realities of war not through grand strategy or battlefield maneuvering alone, but through the intimate struggles of the ordinary families swept into its tragedy. As one of the few female authors writing from a Confederate perspective, Hawkins offers a distinctive lens on a subject often explored through narrower narratives.
Her journey into Civil War fiction began with a powerful personal experience: visiting the Gettysburg battlefield. The visit left such a profound impression that she set out to write a story different from the officer-centered or Union-focused accounts she had often encountered. Determined to give voice to the common Confederate soldier, she created David Summers—a young Alabama farm boy whose family does not own slaves. His story, originally drafted as one lengthy novel, evolved into the multi-book Renegade Series, with more installments still to come.
A remarkable historian-storyteller, J.D.R. Hawkins blends accuracy and emotion to illuminate overlooked perspectives with rare skill and narrative power.
Hawkins balances historical accuracy with vivid storytelling through meticulous research. Each novel required six months of study, during which she combed through hundreds of archival books, journals, letters, and battlefield records. Her novel A Beautiful Glittering Lie draws directly from the journal of R.T. Cole, an adjutant in the 4th Alabama Infantry, anchoring her fictional characters in a world shaped by authentic historical events and figures.
Among her characters, David Summers remains the most challenging to write. Only sixteen at the start of the war, he endures profound loss and trauma as the conflict escalates. The emotional and moral complexities of his rapid coming-of-age demanded careful attention, as Hawkins sought to portray not just the physical toll of war but the internal unraveling it inflicts on the young.
Hawkins’ dedication to exploring overlooked aspects of the Civil War extends beyond the battlefield. In Horses in Gray, she chronicles the remarkable and often forgotten stories of warhorses, inspired by a lecture that revealed how much history had yet to be told. Her short stories—A Becharmed Callie Christmas and Fool’s Gold Folly—further enrich the Renegade universe by illuminating the war through the eyes of everyday people, including children whose lives were irrevocably altered by the conflict.
Authenticity is central to her craft. Hawkins has traveled extensively to museums, historic sites, old courthouses, and battlefields—including stretches of Pennsylvania countryside—to capture the sensory details of 19th-century life. This dedication ensures that readers not only learn about the Civil War but feel its atmosphere, rhythms, and emotional contours.
Through her novels, Hawkins hopes readers will come away with a deeper understanding of how the war reshaped every layer of American society. Her exploration highlights the roles of women, children, immigrants, and Native Americans, and reflects on the long-term ripple effects of the war—including the fate of slavery, the rise of the transcontinental railroad, and the acceleration of westward expansion.
Her artistic background also shapes her writing. As both a musician and songwriter, Hawkins infuses her novels with period music and artistic expression. David Summers’ musicianship and woodworking skills—and the talents of characters like Patrick Mulligan—mirror her own creative pursuits, blending sound, craft, and narrative into a rich historical tapestry.
For aspiring historical fiction writers, Hawkins offers straightforward but vital advice: research relentlessly and respect the knowledge of your readers. Civil War enthusiasts are passionate and well-informed, she notes, and they expect accuracy. Yet authenticity alone is not enough. To captivate readers, she emphasizes, the story must breathe—it must feel alive, human, and deeply felt.
Through her commitment to both the factual and the emotional truths of history, J.D.R. Hawkins continues to bridge past and present, transforming the Civil War from distant record into an immersive human experience.
Source: Reader’s House Magazine
